"of whale oil. To pass the time, some sailors used the leftover whalebone to make homecoming gifts for their friends and loved ones. With saws and files they would first shape the whalebone. Then with needles or knives they would sketch designs into the surface. When the design was complete the sailors would ink them with lampblack or squid ink. While the best-known form of scrimshaw is the whale tooth decorated with engraved scenes, scrimshanders also fashioned shipboard tools, kitchen implements, domestic and needlework tools, and fashion accessories from whalebone and ivory. Tortoise shell, seashells, animal horn, pewter, silver, and"
"traditional. Today's trade and carving techniques have led to more advanced, but not as unique scrimshaw carvings. Collectors are advised to be aware of fakes. Scrimshaw Scrimshaw is the name given to scrollwork, engravings, and carvings done in bone or ivory. Typically it refers to the handiwork created by whalers made from the byproducts from harvesting them from marine mammals. It is most commonly made out of the bones and teeth of sperm whales, the baleen of other whales, and the tusks of walruses. It takes the form of elaborate engravings in the form of pictures and lettering on the"
"both new and old, can be found on Nantucket, Massachusetts. Sailor's valentine A sailor's valentine is a form of shellcraft, a type of mostly antique souvenir, or sentimental gift made using large numbers of small seashells. These were originally made between 1830 and 1890, and they were designed to be brought home from a sailor's voyage at sea and given to the sailor's loved one or loved ones. Sailor valentines are typically octagonal, glass fronted, hinged wooden boxes ranging from in width, displaying intricate symmetrical designs composed entirely of small sea shells of various colors glued onto a backing. Patterns"
"Sailor's valentine A sailor's valentine is a form of shellcraft, a type of mostly antique souvenir, or sentimental gift made using large numbers of small seashells. These were originally made between 1830 and 1890, and they were designed to be brought home from a sailor's voyage at sea and given to the sailor's loved one or loved ones. Sailor valentines are typically octagonal, glass fronted, hinged wooden boxes ranging from in width, displaying intricate symmetrical designs composed entirely of small sea shells of various colors glued onto a backing. Patterns often feature a centerpiece such as a compass rose or"
"metalwork, particularly bracelets, clasps and jewellery, that has survived in pagan burials and in exceptional items such as the intricately carved whalebone Franks Casket, thought to have been produced in Northumbria in the early eighth century, which combines pagan, classical and Christian motifs. After the Christian conversion of what is now Scotland in the seventh century, artistic styles in Northumbria interacted with those in Ireland and Scotland to become part of the common style historians have identified as insular or Hiberno-Saxon. Insular art is the name given to the common style that developed in Britain and Ireland after the conversion"
"Scrimshaw Scrimshaw is the name given to scrollwork, engravings, and carvings done in bone or ivory. Typically it refers to the handiwork created by whalers made from the byproducts from harvesting them from marine mammals. It is most commonly made out of the bones and teeth of sperm whales, the baleen of other whales, and the tusks of walruses. It takes the form of elaborate engravings in the form of pictures and lettering on the surface of the bone or tooth, with the engraving highlighted using a pigment, or, less often, small sculptures made from the same material. However the"
"was historically primarily a seashell product, although more recently some mother of pearl comes from freshwater mussels. Also see pearl. ""Sailor's Valentines"" were late 19th-century decorative keepsakes which were made in the Caribbean, and which were often purchased by sailors to give to their loved ones back home for example in England. These valentines consisted of elaborate arrangements of small seashells glued into attractive symmetrical designs, which were encased on a wooden (usually octagonal) hinged box-frame. The patterns used often featured heart-shaped designs, or included a sentimental expression of love spelled out in small shells. The making of shellwork artifacts"
"latter really fall into the categories of ivory carving, for all carved teeth and tusks, or bone carving. The making of scrimshaw began on whaling ships between 1745 and 1759 on the Pacific Ocean, and survived until the ban on commercial whaling. The practice survives as a hobby and as a trade for commercial artisans. A maker of scrimshaw is known as a ""scrimshander"". The word first appeared in print in the early 19th century, but the etymology is uncertain. Scrimshaw is derived from the practice of sailors on whaling ships creating common tools, where the byproducts of whales were"
"is a practice of Aboriginal women from La Perouse in Sydney, dating back to the 19th century. Shellwork objects include baby shoes, jewelry boxes and replicas of famous landmarks, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. The shellwork tradition began as an Aboriginal women's craft which was adapted and tailored to suit the tourist souvenir market, and which is now considered high art. Small pieces of colored and iridescent shell have been used to create mosaics and inlays, which have been used to decorate walls, furniture and boxes. Large numbers of whole seashells, arranged to form patterns,"
"cut whale's teeth (""ulalei"") or boar's tusks (""ulanifo""). The ""ulalei"" was once an article of jewelry exclusive to the aristocracy and very few examples are still known today outside of museums; today's ""ulalei"" and ""ulanifo"" are, for the most part, mere replicas made of plastic pipe, coconut shell, or carved animal bone. The crowning attire of the taupou or manaia was the traditional headdress known as the ""tuiga."" Coconut midribs (""tuaniu"") wrapped with strips of tapa cloth were secured to a faceplate (""lave"") made of turtle shell in such a way that the midribs stood upright when the faceplate was"
"shell called a ""runtee"". Whelk shells were carved into bird, turtle, fish, and other shaped pendants, as well as ear spools. Carved stone pendants in the Northeastern Woodlands date back as far as the Hopewell tradition from 1—400 CE. Bird motifs were common, ranging from the stylized heads of raptors to ducks. Carved shells and incised animal teeth, especially bear teeth, have been popular for pendants. Historically, pearls are incorporated into necklace and bear teeth have been inlaid with pearls. Seneca and other Iroquois carved small pendants with human faces, which were believed to be protective amulets, from bone, wood,"
"the Right Whale-bone, and other skrimshander articles"". Most engravings were adapted from books and papers. Most of the original scrimshaw created by whalers is currently held by museums. Museums with significant collections include: Other images of scrimshaw can be found at: While scrimshaw is rarely done on whale bone these days, it is still practiced by a few artists. Common modern materials are micarta, ivory (elephant, fossil, walrus), hippo tusk, warthog ivory, buffalo horn, giraffe bone, mother of pearl, and camel bone. Modern scrimshaw typically retains the nautical themes of historical scrimshaw, but can also go well outside of the"
"be etched with many hunting scenes depicting life of the coastal people; later, this technique would come to be known as ""scrimshaw"" when brought back to New England on whaling ships. Elaborate patterns in beadwork were designed as the beads themselves arrived through trade; Regalia of all types used for ceremonial purposes – masks, woven clothing, hats, dance fans – all became souvenirs for the whalers and explorers of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Even the towering totem poles from Southeastern Alaska found their way back to the East Coast of the United States, where they formed the basis"
"and stays made of whalebone or metal. Other researchers have found evidence of the use of corsets in early Crete ( Minoan civilization ). The corset has undergone many changes. Originally, it was known as ""a pair of bodys"" in the late 16th century. It was a simple bodice, stiffened with boning of reed or whalebone. A busk made of wood, horn, whalebone, metal or ivory further reinforced the central front. It was most often laced in the back, and was, at first, a garment reserved for the aristocracy. Later the term ""pair of bodies"" would be replaced with the"
"Figurehead (object) A figurehead is a carved wooden decoration found at the prow of ships, generally of a design related to the name or role of a ship. They were predominant between the 16th and 20th centuries, and modern ships' badges fulfill a similar role. Although earlier ships had often had some form of bow ornamentation (e.g. the eyes painted on the bows of Greek and Phoenician galleys, the Roman practice of putting carvings of their deities on the bows of their galleys, and the Viking ships of ca. A.D. 800–1100), the general practice was introduced with the galleons of"
"men an adventure to California, for free if they signed on as a whaler. Many whalers (including captains and officers) abandoned the crew in San Francisco there, leaving abundant ships deserted in the bay. A large part of American, British, and other countries who participated in whaling in the 19th century created scrimshaw. Scrimshaw is the practice of drawing on whale teeth or other forms of ivory with various tools, typically sailor's knives or other sharp instruments. These images were then coated with ink so that the drawing would appear more noticeable on the whale tooth. It is believed that"
"a heart design, hence the name, and in some cases the small shells are used to spell out a motto or sentimental message. Although the name seems to suggest that the sailors themselves made these objects, a large number of them originated in the island of Barbados, which was an important seaport during this period. Historians believe that the women on Barbados made the valentines using local shells, or in some cases using shells imported from Indonesia, and then the finished products were sold to the sailors. In his book ""Sailors' Valentines"", John Fondas concludes that the primary source for"
"Sailor dress A sailor dress is a child's or woman's dress that follows the styling of the sailor suit, particularly the bodice and collar treatment. A sailor-collared blouse is called a middy blouse (middy derives from midshipman). In early 20th century America, sailor dresses were very popularly known as Peter Thomson dresses after the former naval tailor credited with creating the style. Peter Thomson (sometimes spelled Thompson) had tailoring establishments in New York and Philadelphia in around 1900. His original sailor dresses and suits, for both women and children (including young boys) are represented in several American museum collections including"
"Keelhauling Keelhauling (Dutch ""kielhalen""; ""to drag along the keel"") is a form of punishment and potential execution once meted out to sailors at sea. The sailor was tied to a line that is looped beneath the vessel, thrown overboard on one side of the ship, and dragged under the ship's keel, either from one side of the ship to the other, or the length of the ship (from bow to stern). The common supposition is that keelhauling amounted to a sentence of either death by extreme torture, or minimally a physical trauma likely to permanently maim. The hull of the"
"baleen. These baleen bristles are arranged in plates across the upper jaw of the whale. As a material for various human uses, baleen is usually called whalebone. It is not to be confused (but often is) with whale bone or whale's bone meaning the actual bones of whales, used in carving, for cutlery handles and other uses for the bones of various large species. Like other bone materials, this often functioned as a substitute for ivory. Depending on the species, a baleen plate can be long, and weigh up to . Its hairy fringes are called baleen hair or whalebone-hair."
"prehistoric Thule Eskimo and the colonialist European whalers left mass amounts of whalebone. These aged bones experienced inconsistent and prolonged exposure from arctic conditions. This altered their qualities and features, such as their density and colour. Whalebones needed to be aged for approximately 50 to 100 years before it is qualified for carving. If the material is partially aged or dried, it may smell or shrink while working with the material. Whalebone is an inconsistent medium that varies in colour from a white to a cream, to brown, and to nearly black. Moreover, they have a range from very dense"
"to the jetty. The carvings were executed by people staying at the quarantine station, and cover an extensive period that stretched from the early nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Some were executed by stonemasons and sculptors and show a high degree of skill. More carvings are located at the rock formation known as Old Man's Hat. The Quarantine Station was established primarily to regulate the risk of disease importation through the migration of free and convict Europeans, and the arrival of merchant shipping. There was always a close link between the requirement for quarantine and the ebb and flow"
"some instruments used by sailors to perform scrimshaw included surgical tools, as with the work done by whaling surgeon William Lewis Roderick. Other forms of ivory included a whale's panbone, walrus ivory, and elephant ivory. Of course, the most common scrimshaw during the whaling period of the 19th century was made from whale parts. Other forms of scrimshaw included whalebone fids (rope splicer), bodkins (needle), swifts (yarn holding equipment) and sailors' canes. The time when most scrimshaw in the 19th century was produced coincided with the heyday of the whaling industry which occurred between 1840-1860. More than 95% of all"
"Beakhead A beakhead or beak is the protruding part of the foremost section of a sailing ship. It was fitted on sailing vessels from the 16th to the 18th century and served as a working platform by sailors working the sails of the bowsprit, the forward-pointing mast that carries the spritsails. The beakhead would be one of the most ornate sections of a ship, particularly in the extravagant Baroque-style ships of the 17th century. The sides were often decorated with carved statues and located directly underneath was the figurehead, usually in the form of animals, shields or mythological creatures. The"
"Baleen basketry Baleen basketry is a particular type of basketry, an Alaska Native art made from whale baleen developed in Barrow, Point Hope, and Wainwright, Alaska by North Alaskan Iñupiaq people. Created at the dawn of the 20th century, the baskets made with baleen (a flexible material found in the mouths of Mysticeti or baleen whales) were based on willow-root prototypes. Thin strips of baleen are cut and attached to ivory disks at the start. A coiling method is used to sew baleen bands together, ending with a carved ivory knob on the handle. Most baleen baskets are made by"
"witnessed the thriving native sailing traditions in the Indian Ocean, he decided to revive the almost extinct native boat-building and sailing traditions of the Philippines. Sailing ships, which were once used throughout the islands, were in steep decline after engines became widely available in the 1970s. The team consisted of several traditional boat carpenters from the islands of Cagayancillo and Romblon. The boat was constructed entirely using native techniques and also featured intricate designs by two master carvers of the native Palaw'an people. The boat was completed in March 2014 and was officially named the ""Balatik"". It is long and"
"Navy have a swallow tattoo on both wrists as a symbol of a successful voyage. Swallow tattoo The swallow tattoo was a symbol used historically by sailors to show off their sailing experience. Of British origin in the early days of sailing, it was the image of a barn swallow, usually tattooed on the chest, hands or neck. According to one legend, a sailor tattooed with one swallow had travelled over ; a sailor with two swallows had travelled . Travelling these great distances was extremely difficult and dangerous in the early days of sailing, so one or more swallow"
"Sea-lion In heraldry, the term sea-lion (sometimes called a morse) refers to a legendary creature that has the head and upper body of a lion, but with webbed forelimbs and a fish tail. These occur most frequently as supporters, but also occur as crests and occasionally as charges. Sea-lions are frequently found in ""sejant"" or ""sejant-erect"" (sitting upright) attitudes, but may also be found ""naiant"" (horizontally, as if swimming) or ""assurgeant"" (issuing from the waves of the sea). The sea-lion is prominent in the heraldic tradition of the Philippines, where it features on the coats of arms of the capital,"
"Lei niho palaoa A Lei niho palaoa is a Hawaiian neck ornament traditionally worn by ""aliʻi"" (chiefs) of both sexes. The 19th century examples are most commonly made of a whale tooth carved into a hook-shape suspended by plaited human hair. The symbolism is not known; it may represent a tongue that speaks the law, or may represent a vessel for ""mana"" (inherited virtue). Precontact lei niho palaoa were less than two inches in length, and were not only made of whale ivory, but also of shell, bone, wood, stone, and coral. Sometimes, several of these smaller pendants were strung"
"of a foil"" and of one piece construction. A whale tail is also one of two types of guide handles commonly used on power trowels, the other being a bicycle style handlebar. ""Reverence"", a 1989 sculpture created by Jim Sardonis on the side of Interstate highway I-89 between Exits 12 and 13 in Vermont, is popularly known as ""whale tails"". Three beaches in Destin, Florida, Puntarenas in Costa Rica, and Sandy Bay, Jamaica are named as Whale's Tail Beach for their shapes. A popular specialty license plate in California has been dubbed as a ""whale tail license plate"", as it"
"eagles and whales. While these knitted garments did not have the same ceremonial or symbolic importance as the woven blankets, they were nonetheless worn during notable civic and religious events. Salish Weavers Guild Salish weaving The Salish are skilled weavers of the Pacific Northwest. They are most noted for their beautiful twill blankets many of which are very old. The adoption of new fabrics, dyes, and weaving techniques allow us to study a wide variety of Salish weavings today. According to oral traditions, blankets have been used for ceremonial purposes since the beginning of time. Salish blankets identified the wearer"
"made of seal skins would then be attached to the whale and the crews would begin towing the carcass back to shore. Once the carcass was ashore butchering would begin with the most prized piece of flesh, the whale’s saddle including the dorsal fin, being given to the whaling chief. After receiving their cut of meat and blubber, the whaling chief and his wife would return home and hang the saddle outside their house for oil extraction. The meat and blubber would be adorned with eagle feathers and down in order to honour the whale’s sacrifice. The lines of the"
"Sewn boat A sewn boat is a type of wooden boat which is clinker built and planks sewn, stitched, tied, or bound together with tendons or flexible wood, such as roots and willow branches. Sewn boat construction techniques were used in many parts of the world prior to the development of metal fasteners, and continued to be used long after that time for small boats to reduce construction costs where metal fasteners were too expensive. Although well established, the ""sewn boat"" name is somewhat misleading since it suggests textile or leather skin construction, as often found in kayaks. Some have"